The "bellyband Creator" stopped, turned around, and laughed: "The mighty Quinn Heavenly Venerable—aren't you also dressed like a child? Aren't you wearing a red bellyband underneath?"
He was none other than the "Qin Kai" whom Quinn met in the early Dragon-Han era—the future Pioneer Emperor Qin Ye, founder of the Pioneer Era and the Heaven Alliance's Quinn Heavenly Venerable!
Back then, Quinn Heavenly Venerable was still a young man—tall, broad-shouldered, handsome and cheerful, with an air of unshakable resolve, as if the world could change but he remained eternal.
Now, he had become a middle-aged man, but that unique temperament was still unchanged.
Just now, when Quinn saw the "bellyband Creator," he recognized him at a glance—not by his face, but by his temperament.
Of course, a middle-aged man wearing a red bellyband—even with his beard freshly shaved, the stubbly blue shadow remained—was also what caught Quinn's attention.
The other Creators were all huge in stature, so it was hard for them to notice the odd appearance of the short 'infant.' But for Quinn, it was easy to spot something amiss.
Quinn's chest burned with excitement, and he couldn't help wanting to step forward. But the Pioneer Emperor's outfit was so revealing that he dared not go up and embrace him.
"My robes may be child-sized, but at least they cover my backside."
Quinn laughed, "It's my bellyband underneath! Pioneer Emperor, your bellyband can't even cover your butt."
The two of them walked closer.
The Pioneer Emperor tugged off his bellyband, revealing that he wasn't naked underneath at all. It only looked like his rear was exposed because his undergarments matched his skin tone.
His clothes began to shift color, changing like a chameleon until they quickly transformed into a purple-blue robe.
"Skyfeather Clan robes?" Quinn exclaimed in surprise.
The Pioneer Emperor said, "You know the Skyfeather Clan too? After I became Pioneer Emperor, they made me several sets of clothing."
Quinn's own bellyband had Skyfeather Clan-made clothing underneath, personally tailored by Azure Qing, and it fit perfectly.
Currently, the Skyfeather Realm was occupied by a demon clan under Heavenly Court, so the Skyfeather Clan had turned to Everpeace for refuge. Azure Qing had always wanted to reclaim their homeland, but Everpeace was too weak to take it back.
Quinn came up beside the Pioneer Emperor, opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.
For so long, he had dreamed of meeting this ancestor, with countless questions to ask and endless words to say.
Quinn's feelings toward this ancestor were complex—from admiration when he learned he was the Pioneer Emperor's descendant, to heartbreak and disdain after discovering he had abandoned the masses to hide in Carefree Haven, to anger and a yearning for approval when they met in the early Dragon-Han era, hoping to prove himself.
Later, during the Everpeace Cataclysm, Pioneer Emperor ordered the Four Celestial Teachers and Four Heavenly Kings to withdraw and consolidate their forces, leaving Quinn deeply disappointed.
But after arriving in Heavenly Court, Quinn began to understand Pioneer Emperor's decision.
Now, seeing Pioneer Emperor again, a rush of emotions flooded Quinn's heart, making all the words he had prepared seem suddenly unimportant.
Whether blame or admiration, reverence or disappointment, heartbreak or disdain, understanding or sympathy—all of it seemed unimportant.
Quinn's gaze was gentle, his expression calm, and he smiled, "It's been a million years since we parted. Are you well?"
Pioneer Emperor's eyes dropped for a moment, moved by the question. Then he looked up and met Quinn's gaze. "I've managed. Sometimes life was bitter, sometimes joyful, sometimes the decisions were agony. But sometimes, hearing news from the outside world brought me comfort."
Quinn understood what he meant. The bitter times were the early Pioneer Era; the joyful times were when they grew and expanded, improving life for countless people.
The agonizing decision was the choice to migrate to Carefree Haven, abandoning the people they were meant to protect.
And the comfort from outside news was hearing about Quinn, which brought him great relief.
Quinn knew that Pioneer Emperor had always controlled the hidden Pioneer-Era gods in the Great Ruins. Although he lived in Carefree Haven, he kept a close watch on the outside world.
Pioneer Emperor's voice resonated from his chest, deep and powerful: "I never guessed that the Quinn Heavenly Venerable who entered the early Dragon-Han era with Niu Sanduo was my own descendant."
He couldn't help but laugh, "Back then, I kept calling you Brother Quinn. I remember you blushed and stammered, scolding me not to call you that."
Quinn couldn't help but laugh too, "You thought I was arrogant, but you didn't realize that calling me that messed up our family hierarchy."
Pioneer Emperor was silent for a moment, then said, "I've come to take you home—to Carefree Haven. I can hide my presence from anyone, but not from God King Langwo. She'll notice soon. If you don't come with me now, it'll be too late."
Quinn looked at him with complicated emotions, then after a moment, shook his head.
Pioneer Emperor frowned, patiently saying, "Your parents are worried sick about you. They begged me to come rescue you. If you come home, they'll finally be at ease."
Quinn shook his head again.
Pioneer Emperor raised his eyebrows, "You're just as stubborn, just as unruly, just as arrogant and reckless as before. You haven't matured at all!"
"Neither have you."
Quinn smirked, "You're just as cautious, always worrying, wanting absolute certainty before acting—missing opportunity after opportunity. But you don't realize, the enemy never gives you a guaranteed chance to win."